Systems and Methods for Providing an Electronic Dictation Interface

ABSTRACT

Some embodiments disclosed herein store a target application and a dictation application. The target application may be configured to receive input from a user. The dictation application interface may include a full overlay mode option, where in response to selection of the full overlay mode option, the dictation application interface is automatically sized and positioned over the target application interface to fully cover a text area of the target application interface to appear as if the dictation application interface is part of the target application interface. The dictation application may be further configured to receive an audio dictation from the user, convert the audio dictation into text, provide the text in the dictation application interface and in response to receiving a first user command to complete the dictation, automatically copy the text from the dictation application interface and inserting the text into the target application interface.

CROSS REFERENCE Background

As a background, many physicians and other professionals are required tocreate reports and other documents regarding their work. While theseprofessionals may hand write or type these documents, many professionalshave found that dictating the notes into a recording device is the mosteffective mechanism for recording their ideas. However, in manysituations, conversion of the audio dictation into text can be aproblem. As an example, oftentimes, the professional records an audiodictation into the recording device, which is then sent to atranscriptionist. The transcriptionist may convert the audio dictationinto a transcribed report. The transcribed report may be sent back tothe professional for inclusion into a professional record and/or may besent to another electronic system for storage and/or furtherdistribution. However, because this process utilizes actions by aplurality of different parties utilizing a plurality of differentcomputing devices, such a process may be slow and inefficient.

SUMMARY

Included are systems and methods for providing an electronic dictationinterface. Some embodiments of a system include a memory component thatstores a target application and a dictation application. The targetapplication may be configured to receive input from a user. The targetapplication may be further configured to provide a target applicationinterface for providing the input as text for display, where thedictation application causes the system to provide a dictationapplication interface for providing text for display. The dictationapplication interface may include a full overlay mode option, where inresponse to selection of the full overlay mode option, the dictationapplication interface is automatically sized and positioned over thetarget application interface to fully cover a text area of the targetapplication interface to appear as if the dictation applicationinterface is part of the target application interface. The dictationapplication may be further configured to receive audio from the user,convert the audio dictation into text, provide the text in the dictationapplication interface, and, in response to receiving a first usercommand to complete the dictation, automatically copy the text from thedictation application interface and insert the text into the targetapplication interface.

Similarly, some embodiments of a method may be configured to actuate atarget application. The target application may be further configured toreceive input from a user and provide a target application interface forproviding the input as text for display. The method may be furtherconfigured to actuate a dictation application. The dictation applicationmay be configured to receive an audio dictation from the user andconvert the audio dictation into text for display. The dictationapplication may provide a dictation application interface for providingthe audio dictation as text for display, where the dictation applicationinterface includes a full overlay mode option, a partial overlay modeoption, and a windowed mode option. In response to selection of the fulloverlay mode option, the dictation application interface may beautomatically sized and positioned over the target application interfaceto fully cover a text area of the target application interface to appearas if the dictation application interface is part of the targetapplication interface. In response to selection of the partial overlaymode option, the dictation application interface may be automaticallysized and positioned to cover a predetermined portion of the text areato appear as if the dictation application interface is part of thetarget application interface. In response to selection of the windowedmode option, the dictation application interface may be sized andpositioned to appear separate from the target application interface. Themethod may further include receiving the audio dictation from the user,convert the audio dictation into text, and providing the text in thedictation application interface. Some embodiments of the method may beconfigured to automatically copy the text from the dictation applicationinterface and inserting the text into the target application interface,in response to receiving a first user command to complete.

Other embodiments and/or advantages of this disclosure will be or maybecome apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of thefollowing drawings and detailed description. It is intended that allsuch additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be includedwithin this description and be within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with referenceto the following drawings. The components in the drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in thedrawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. While several embodiments are described inconnection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit thedisclosure to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. On thecontrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, andequivalents.

FIG. 1 depicts a computing environment for providing an electronicdictation interface, according to embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 depicts a computing device for providing an electronic dictationinterface, according to embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 3 depicts a target application interface of a target application,according to embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 4 depicts a wait screen interface for providing options fordictating into a target application, according to embodiments disclosedherein;

FIG. 5 depicts a professional dictation interface, according toembodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 6 depicts a dictation application interface in full overlay modewith a target application, according to embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 7 depicts a dictation application interface with a routine sidebaroverlaying a target application, according to embodiments disclosedherein;

FIG. 8 depicts a partial overlay dictation application interface with atarget application, according to embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 9 depicts a dictation application interface in partial overlay modewith a target application, according to embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 10 depicts a flowchart for inserting text from a dictation into atarget application, according to embodiments disclosed herein; and

FIG. 11 depicts another flowchart for inserting text from a dictationinto a target application, according to embodiments disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein include a system and/or method forproviding an electronic dictation interface. More specifically,embodiments disclosed herein may be configured to provide an interfacethat allows for text from a dictation that may be inserted into adesired target application interface. In some embodiments, aprofessional may sign into the dictation application and activate arecord option on a microphone or keyboard. In response, a dictationinterface may be provided for receiving the professional's dictation. Inthe medical industry, the dictation application interface may includevarious options for inputting and/or collecting information related tothe patient name, medical record, financial number, etc. The dictationapplication interface may take one of a plurality of modes, including afull overlay mode, a partial overlay mode, and a windowed mode.

In the full overlay mode, a dictation application interface may beoverlaid onto a target application, such as word processing applicationinterface or other text application window. The dictation applicationinterface may be automatically sized to fill the entire text portion ofthe target application interface. The dictation application interfacemay also be configured such that movement of the target applicationinterface will cause the dictation application interface to move aswell, thus creating the impression that the dictation applicationinterface is part of the target application interface. The dictationapplication interface may be configured to follow the target applicationinterface and, if the target application interface is moved, minimized,maximized, or resized, the dictation application interface may adjust tomatch the target application interface. This will give the appearancethat the dictation application interface is imbedded in the targetapplication interface, when in reality it is merely positioned directlyover top of the target application interface. In this mode the user isprovided with the maximum amount of dictation area, while at the sametime allowing for interaction with the target application interfacewithout hindrance.

In the partial overlay mode, only a portion of the target applicationinterface is covered by the dictation application interface. This modemay be utilized in situations where the user desires to dictate textinto an existing document. Similar to the full overlay mode, in thismode, the partial dictation application interface may be configured tofollow the target application interface if moved, minimized, maximized,etc.

In the windowed mode, if the dictation may be started in either the fulloverlay mode or the partial overlay mode, the user has the ability toswitch to the windowed mode. By switching to the windowed mode, thedictation application interface will no longer be directly tied to thetarget application interface. This allows the user to review any text inthe target application that may have been behind the overlaid dictationapplication interface. Once in windowed mode, the user can switch backto the one of the overlay modes to automatically reposition thedictation application interface over the target application interface.

Additionally, other options are provided such as an option regarding thetype of audio to text conversion utilized for a dictation. As anexample, one option may include the dictation being sent directly to atranscriptionist. A second option may include facilitating a machineconversion using a speech recognition technology (either locally orremotely) and then having the machine conversion sent to atranscriptionist for verification and error checking. A third optioncould be to merely have a local or remote computing device perform thefull conversion using speech recognition technology, where the dictatorcorrects any errors, thus bypassing the need for a transcriptionist toperform verification and error checking. Other options may also beavailable.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a computing environmentfor providing an electronic dictation interface, according toembodiments disclosed herein. As illustrated, a network 100 may becoupled to a user computing device 102 and a remote computing device104. The network 100 may include a wide area network and/or a local areanetwork and thus may be wired and/or wireless. The user computing device102 may include any portable and/or non-portable computing devices, suchas personal computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, personaldigital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, etc. As discussed in moredetail below, the user computing device 102 may include a memorycomponent 140 that stores target application logic 144 a and dictationapplication logic 144 b. The target application logic 144 a may includesoftware, hardware, and/or firmware for providing a textualfunctionality, such as a word processing application, notepadapplication, spreadsheet application, etc. Similarly, the dictationapplication logic 144 b may include software, hardware, and/or firmwarefor receiving audio and providing an electronic audio to text conversionof that audio into a target application interface. Optionally, theimplementation of the solution could utilize thin client computing, suchthat the target application and/or dictation application logicphysically execute on the remote computing device and merely display andinterface with the user on the user computing device 104, such as thecase using CITRIX™ or WINDOWS™ Terminal Services technology. Thus,depending on embodiment, both the target and dictation application maynot both reside in memory component 140. Similarly, in some embodiments,the system may be configured such that the target application and/ordictation application execute on a user computing device and therecorded audio is streamed to a remote computer to convert the dictationto text using speech recognition technology and the text sent back tothe user computing device.

The remote computing device 104 may be configured as a server and/orother computing device for communicating information with the usercomputing device 102. In some embodiments, the remote computing device104 may be configured to receive an audio dictation from the usercomputing device 102. The remote computing device 104 may convert theaudio dictation into text and/or may send the converted text to atranscriptionist, as described above. Similarly, in some embodiments,the remote computing device 104 may not convert the audio dictation totext and route the audio dictation to a transcriptionist for standardtranscribing. The remote computing device 104 may utilize the audiodictation and/or converted text to update voice recognition logic thatmay be utilized for converting future audio into text. In still someembodiments, this information may be utilized to update user specificsettings, profile, and/or configurations.

It should be understood that while the user computing device 102 and theremote computing device 104 are represented in FIG. 1 each as a singlecomponent; this is merely an example. In some embodiments, there may benumerous different components that provide the described functionality.However, for illustration purposes, single components are shown in FIG.1 and described herein.

FIG. 2 depicts a user computing device 102 for providing an electronicdictation interface, according to embodiments disclosed herein. In theillustrated embodiment, the user computing device 102 includes aprocessor 230, input/output hardware 232, network interface hardware234, a data storage component 236 (which stores dictation data 238 a,records data 238 b, and/or other data), and the memory component 140.The memory component 140 may be configured as volatile and/ornonvolatile memory and as such, may include random access memory(including SRAM, DRAM, and/or other types of RAM), flash memory, securedigital (SD) memory, registers, compact discs (CD), digital versatilediscs (DVD), and/or other types of non-transitory computer-readablemediums. Depending on the particular embodiment, the non-transitorycomputer-readable medium may reside within the user computing device 102and/or external to the user computing device 102.

Additionally, the memory component 140 may store operating logic 242,the target application logic 144 a, and the dictation application logic144 b. The target application logic 144 a and the dictation applicationlogic 144 b may each include a plurality of different pieces of logic,each of which may be embodied as a computer program, firmware, and/orhardware, as an example. A local communication interface 246 is alsoincluded in FIG. 2 and may be implemented as a bus or othercommunication interface to facilitate communication among the componentsof the user computing device 102.

The processor 230 may include any processing component operable toreceive and execute instructions (such as from the data storagecomponent 236 and/or the memory component 140). The input/outputhardware 232 may include and/or be configured to interface with amonitor, positioning system, keyboard, touch screen, mouse, printer,image capture device, microphone, speaker, gyroscope, compass, and/orother device for receiving, sending, and/or presenting data. The networkinterface hardware 234 may include and/or be configured forcommunicating with any wired or wireless networking hardware, includingan antenna, a modem, LAN port, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) card, WiMaxcard, mobile communications hardware, and/or other hardware forcommunicating with other networks and/or devices. From this connection,communication may be facilitated between the user computing device 102and other computing devices.

The operating logic 242 may include an operating system and/or othersoftware for managing components of the user computing device 102.Similarly, as discussed above, the target application logic 144 a mayreside in the memory component 140 and may be configured to cause theprocessor 230 to provide a target application interface. Similarly, thedictation application logic 144 b may be configured for providing adictation application interface. Other functionality is also includedand described in more detail, below.

It should be understood that the components illustrated in FIG. 2 aremerely exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of thisdisclosure. While the components in FIG. 2 are illustrated as residingwithin the user computing device 102, this is merely an example. In someembodiments, one or more of the components may reside external to theuser computing device 102. It should also be understood that while theuser computing device 102 in FIG. 2 is illustrated as a single device,this is also merely an example. In some embodiments, the targetapplication logic 144 a and/or the dictation application logic 144 b mayreside on different devices. Additionally, while the user computingdevice 102 is illustrated with the target application logic 144 a andthe dictation application logic 144 b as separate logical components,this is also an example. In some embodiments, a single piece of logicmay cause the user computing device 102 to provide the describedfunctionality.

FIG. 3 depicts a target application interface 300 of a targetapplication, according to embodiments disclosed herein. As illustrated,the target application interface 300 may take the form of a wordprocessing interface. As such, the target application interface 300 maybe configured to receive input from a user. The input may be a textualkeystroke, a voice command and/or other input. The input may be receivedat a predetermined cursor position 304. Also included in the targetapplication interface 300 is a toolbar 306, which includes options, suchas formatting options to cut, copy, and/or paste text to and from thetarget application interface 300. FIG. 3 merely provides an example of atarget application, whereas a target application may include anapplication window of any kind that has one or more locations forreceiving text.

FIG. 4 depicts a wait screen interface 400 for providing options fordictating into the target application, according to embodimentsdisclosed herein. More specifically, the wait screen interface 400 maybe provided as a part of the toolbar 306 from FIG. 3, and/or as astand-alone widget that resides on a desktop interface of the usercomputing device 102 (FIG. 1). Regardless, the wait screen interface 400may be configured to indicate a current status of the dictationapplication and may include a home option 402, a manual entry option404, a change user option 406, and an exit option 408. A dictation maybe initiated via a user selection of a predetermined option on akeyboard and/or microphone, which may be indicated by the wait screeninterface 400. As an example, in some embodiments, the start of thedictation may be initiated via a selection of the “F2” button or viaselection of the “F3” button, via selection of an option on amicrophone, and/or by speaking a voice command. The current user name(e.g., Stone) may be identified in the wait screen interface 400, aswell.

Regardless, by selecting the home option 402, an interface for accessinggeneral application settings and non-dictation functions may beprovided. In response to selection of the manual entry option 404, theuser may be prompted for information related to the dictation. Thisinformation can include demographics, such as a medical record number,accession number, visit identifier, encounter number, record locationidentifier, dictation identifier, and/or other data used to identify therecord, the patient/individual associated with the record and/or thelocation in the record that the resultant text should be placed. Manualentry may be used when the dictation is sent to a transcriptionist fortranscribing and/or editing the dictation. This information may bemanually entered via the keyboard input, bar code scan, radio frequencyidentifier, etc. After being optionally prompted for information, theuser may be presented with a professional dictation interface for adictation application (as discussed with reference to FIG. 5).

Selection of the change user option 406 may allow the user to log offand allow another user to log in. More specifically, as the dictationapplication may include speech recognition capabilities, the usercomputing device 102 (and/or remote computing device 104) may store userspecific speech characteristics and/or configuration settings. These maybe stored as the dictation data 238 a. Additionally, in someembodiments, the user computing device 102 may store professionalrecords to which a particular user is assigned. As an example, if theusers of the dictation application are physicians, different patientrosters may be provided, depending on which user is logged in.Additionally, selection of the exit option 408 may cause the dictationapplication to exit.

FIG. 5 depicts a professional dictation interface 500, according toembodiments disclosed herein. As illustrated, in response to selectionof the manual entry option 404 from FIG. 4, the professional dictationinterface 500 (which may be configured as a medical dictation interface)may be provided. The professional dictation interface 500 may include adictation area 502, a report area 504, and a report details area 506.The dictation area 502 may include a text area 508 and a cursor 510 forproviding text from a dictation. Also included in the dictation area 502is a record option 512 and playback options 514 for playing, rewinding,stopping, and/or pausing the recorded dictation.

The report area 504 may include various pieces of information regardingthe details of a particular record. As an example, if the user is aphysician, the report area 504 may provide information regarding aparticular patient and/or information regarding a particular test,procedure, etc. about a particular patient. Similarly, area 506 mayprovide summary information regarding the particular record to which theuser is dictating.

Also included in the professional dictation interface 500 is a finishlater option 516, a send to MT option 518, a complete and sign option520, a view option 522, an output option 524, a save as routine option526, and an abort option 528. Upon selection of the record option 512,activation of a keyboard option, and/or activation of a microphoneoption, and/or speech recognized voice command, the user may begindictating an audio dictation. Depending on the particular embodiment,the audio dictation may be converted to text using speech recognitiontechnology and inserted at the cursor 510. If the user desires to pauseor stop the dictation, the user may again select the record option 512.Optionally, the user may use the keyboard to insert text at the cursorposition 510. Additionally, in response to selection of the finish lateroption 516, the current dictation may be saved for completion at a laterdate. In response to selecting the send to MT option 518, the currentdictation may be sent to a manual transcriptionist or first to a speechrecognition engine and then to a transcriptionist for editing. Inresponse to selection of the complete and sign option 520, the currentdictated text may be completed and signed by the user. In response toselection of the view option 522, the user may be provided with a viewof what the final document will look like when printed. In response toselection of the output option 524, the user can adjust the distributionof the completed report such as to a printer, facsimile machine, emailaddress, and/or other electronic transmission. In response to selectionof the save as routine option 526, the dictated text may be saved as aroutine. As an example, if the dictated text is a common phrase that theuser often utilizes, this common phrase may be saved such that ashortcut word or phrase may be used instead. Upon speaking (and/ortyping) the shortcut word or phrase, the entire saved text can be pulledinto the current report. Upon selection of the abort option 528, thecurrent dictation may be canceled.

FIG. 6 through FIG. 11 depict modes of the dictation applicationinterface in conjunction with a target application. These modes ofoperation may be initiated using a predetermined options, a button on amicrophone, and/or through a spoken command. FIG. 6 depicts a dictationapplication interface 600 b in full overlay mode, according toembodiments disclosed herein. As illustrated the target application mayprovide a target application interface 600 a, which may be configured asa word processing application interface and/or other interface forproviding a text area. More specifically, the dictation applicationinterface 600 b may be sized and positioned to fully cover the text areaof the target application interface 600 a. Upon selection of thekeyboard option, the microphone option, and/or a voice command(discussed above), the user may dictate an audio dictation for insertioninto the dictation application interface 600 b that is converted to textusing speech recognition technology. Additionally, in some embodiments,the user may manually type or correct text within the dictationapplication interface 600 b. Also included in the dictation applicationinterface 600 b are a complete dictation option 602, a mode changeoption 604, a delete dictation option 606, a show formatting option 608,and a save as routine option 610.

In response to selection of the complete dictation option 602, theconverted text in the dictation application interface 600 b may beinserted into the target application interface 600 a. In someembodiments, the dictation application interface 600 b may close;however, this is not a requirement. In response to selection of the modechange option 604, the dictation application may change from the fulloverlay mode to a partial overlay or a window mode. In response toselection of the delete dictation option 606, the text in the dictationapplication interface 600 b may be deleted. In response to selection ofthe show formatting option 608, formatting options such as bold, italic,underline, etc. may be provided in the dictation application interface600 b for allowing the user to further format the text. In response thesave as routine option 610, the text may be saved as a routine, asdiscussed above.

It should be understood that various customization options may beprovided in the dictation application interface 600 b. As an example,while the dictation application logic 144 b may be configured toautomatically determine the size and position for a dictationapplication interface, in some embodiments, this setting may beconfigured by a user. Other options include a verify option to verify ifthe target application interface is a viable window in which tointegrate with the dictation application interface. A select text optionmay be provided to determine whether all of the text in the targetapplication interface is selected upon activating the dictationapplication. A get text option may be provided for determining amechanism for transferring the selected text from the target applicationinterface to the dictation application interface. A set text option maybe provided for determining a mechanism for transferring text from thedictation application interface to the target application interface. Asan example, the text may be cut and pasted, copied and pasted, etc. Adefault display mode option may be provided for determining whether thedictation application opens in full overlay mode, partial overlay mode,or windowed mode. A dimensions options may allow the user to determinemaximum and minimum heights and widths for the interfaces in the variousdisplay modes. A conversion option may be provided for allowing the userto select whether the dictations are converted locally, remotely, by amachine, by a transcriptionist, and/or by a machine with reviewingand/or error correction by a transcriptionist. An offsets option mayalso be included for allowing the user to manually determine the sizeand position for the dictation application interface, as discussed inmore detail with regard to FIG. 9.

FIG. 7 depicts a dictation application interface 700 b with a routinesidebar 702, according to embodiments disclosed herein. As illustrated,a target application interface 700 a is utilized with the dictationapplication interface 700 b in full overlay mode. Also included is theroutine sidebar 702. The routine sidebar 702 includes a plurality ofpreviously created routines that may be selected for inserting into adictation. As an example, if the user has previously dictated (or typed)a passage regarding an acute abdominal condition, the user may select anacute abdominal option 704 in the routine sidebar 702. Upon receivingthis selection, the dictation application interface 700 b may insertthat passage into the dictation. Similarly, if the user states thephrase “routine acute abdominal” and/or other phrase, the dictationapplication interface 700 b can insert the passage.

FIG. 8 depicts a partial overlay dictation application interface 800 b,according to embodiments disclosed herein. As illustrated, in responseto selection of the view option 522 (FIG. 5), a partial overlaydictation application interface 800 b may be provided. The partialoverlay dictation application interface 800 b may be configured toprovide a view of the current document in the target applicationinterface 800 a. More specifically, the partial overlay dictationapplication interface 800 may receive an audio dictation from a userthat is converted to text using speech recognition technology. Becausethe user can see the current document in the target applicationinterface 800 a, the user can dictate the new text and select thecomplete option 802 to insert the text into the target applicationinterface 600 a at a position of the cursor.

It should be understood that in the examples of FIGS. 6 and 7, thedictation application interfaces are either situated in a full overlaymode or a partial overlay mode. Regardless, the dictation applicationinterfaces are sized and positioned at predetermined spots to appear asif they are part of the target application interfaces. As such, if thetarget application interfaces are moved, the dictation applicationinterfaces will be similarly moved. Additionally, the user may choose tomove the partial overlay dictation application interface 800 b to adifferent location on the screen relative to the target applicationinterface 800 a. As such, if the target application interfaces aremoved, the dictation application interfaces may continue to be movedsimilar to each other.

FIG. 9 depicts a dictation application interface 900 b, according toembodiments disclosed herein. As illustrated, overlay offsets may beincluded as control settings of where the dictation applicationinterface 900 is positioned within the target application interface 900a. The offsets may include a top offset 902 a, a bottom offset 902 b, aleft offset 902 c, and a right offset 902 d. While the offsets 902 maydefault to predetermined areas around the target application interface900 a, in some embodiments, there may be user options to customize theoffsets. As an example, the user may desire the offsets 902 to change,based on the particular target application being utilized. Additionally,if the default offsets 902 do not suit the user, the user may have theoption to change the offsets 902.

FIG. 10 depicts a flowchart for inserting text from a dictation into atarget application, according to embodiments disclosed herein. Asillustrated in block 1030, a target application may be opened. In block1032, the user may be logged into a dictation application. In block1034, a patient/client record may be opened for the user. In block 1036,the cursor of the target may be positioned to begin text receipt. Inblock 1038, the dictation may be activated. In block 1040, an audiodictation may be received from the user and converted to text usingspeech recognition technology. In block 1042, the audio dictation isconverted into text, such as via a speech recognition technology.Additionally, the user may retrieve previously saved text or a templateinstead. In block 1044, once the dictation is complete, dictation may beconverted to text, which may be inserted into the target applicationwhere the cursor is positioned.

FIG. 11 depicts another flowchart for inserting text from the dictationapplication interface into a target application, according toembodiments disclosed herein. As illustrated in block 1130, a targetapplication may be actuated. The target application may be configured toreceive input from a user. Depending on the particular embodiment, theinput may be a textual keystroke, a voice command, and/or other input.Additionally, the target application may be further configured toprovide a target application interface for providing the textualkeystroke input as text for display using speech recognition technology.In block 1132, the dictation application may be actuated. The dictationapplication may be configured to receive an audio dictation from theuser. The dictation application may be further configured to convert theaudio dictation into text for display. The dictation application mayalso provide a dictation application interface for providing thedictation as text for display. In block 1134, the audio dictation may bereceived from the user. In block 1136, the audio dictation may beconverted into text using speech recognition technology. In someembodiments, the user computing device 102 (and/or the remote computingdevice 104 both from FIG. 1) may be configured with voice recognitionlogic for automatically converting the audio dictation into text.Additionally, in some embodiments, the user computing device 102 and/orthe remote computing device 104 may be configured to send the audiodictation to a transcriptionist for transcription. In still someembodiments, the user computing device 102 and/or the remote computingdevice 104 may be configured to perform a voice recognition conversionof the audio dictation and then send the converted text to thetranscriptionist for editing and proofreading. Regardless, in block1138, the text may be provided in the dictation application interface.In block 1140, in response to receiving a first user command to completethe dictation, the text may be automatically copied from the dictationapplication interface and inserted into the target applicationinterface. If the dictation or converted text was sent to atranscriptionist, the text may be inserted into the target applicationinterface by the transcriptionist or sent to the target applicationinterface through an automated electronic transmission.

It should be understood that the flowcharts included herein show thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of a possible implementationof software. In this regard, each block can be interpreted to representa module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or moreexecutable instructions for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). It should also be noted that in some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder and/or not at all. For example, two blocks shown in succession mayin fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merelypossible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clearunderstanding of the principles of this disclosure. Many variations andmodifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) withoutdeparting substantially from the spirit and principles of thedisclosure. Further, the scope of the present disclosure is intended tocover all permutations and sub-permutations of all elements, features,and aspects discussed above. All such modifications and variations areintended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure.

1. A system for providing a dictation interface comprising: a memorycomponent that stores a target application and a dictation application,the target application configured to receive input from a user, thetarget application further configured to provide a target applicationinterface for providing the input as text for display, wherein thedictation application causes the system to perform at least thefollowing: provide a dictation application interface for providing textfor display, wherein the dictation application interface comprises afull overlay mode option, wherein in response to selection of the fulloverlay mode option, the dictation application interface isautomatically sized and positioned over the target application interfaceto fully cover a text area of the target application interface to appearas if the dictation application interface is part of the targetapplication interface; receive an audio dictation from the user; convertthe audio dictation into text; provide the text in the dictationapplication interface; and in response to receiving a first user commandto complete the dictation, automatically copy the text from thedictation application interface and insert the text into the targetapplication interface.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the dictationapplication further causes the system to perform at least the following:receive a second user command to move the target application interface;and move the target application interface and the dictation applicationinterface such that the dictation application interface appears to bepart of the target application interface.
 3. The system of claim 1,wherein the dictation application further causes the system toautomatically close the dictation application interface, in response toinserting the text into the target application interface.
 4. The systemof claim 1, wherein converting the audio dictation comprises at leastone of the following: performing a local machine conversion of the audiodictation into text, performing a remote machine conversion of the audiodictation into text, sending the audio dictation to a transcriptionistfor transcription, sending the audio dictation to a remote machine to beconverted to text and then sending to a transcriptionist, and performingthe local machine conversion and sending the audio dictation and thelocal machine converted text to the transcriptionist.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the text is inserted at a predetermined cursor positionin the target application interface.
 6. The system of claim 1, whereinthe dictation application further causes the system to provide a medicaldictation interface for providing a user option to include a textversion of the audio dictation into a medical record.
 7. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the dictation application further causes the system toprovide a partial overlay mode option, wherein in response to selectionof the partial overlay mode option, the dictation application interfaceis automatically sized and positioned to cover a predetermined portionof the text area to appear as if the dictation application interface ispart of the target application interface.
 8. A method for providing adictation interface, comprising: actuating a target application, thetarget application configured to receive input from a user, the targetapplication further configured to provide a target application interfacefor providing the input as text for display; actuating a dictationapplication, the dictation application configured to receive an audiodictation from the user, the dictation application configured to convertthe audio dictation into text for display, the dictation applicationfurther providing a dictation application interface for providing theaudio dictation as text for display, wherein the dictation applicationinterface comprises a full overlay mode option, a partial overlay modeoption, and a windowed mode option, wherein in response to selection ofthe full overlay mode option, the dictation application interface isautomatically sized and positioned over the target application interfaceto fully cover a text area of the target application interface to appearas if the dictation application interface is part of the targetapplication interface, wherein in response to selection of the partialoverlay mode option, the dictation application interface isautomatically sized and positioned to cover a predetermined portion ofthe text area to appear as if the dictation application interface ispart of the target application interface, wherein in response toselection of the windowed mode option, the dictation applicationinterface is sized and positioned to appear separate from the targetapplication interface; receiving the audio dictation from the user;converting the audio dictation into text; providing the text in thedictation application interface; and in response to receiving a firstuser command to complete, automatically copying the text from thedictation application interface and inserting the text into the targetapplication interface.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:receiving a second user command to move the target applicationinterface; and moving the target application interface and the dictationapplication interface such that the dictation application interfaceappears to be part of the target application interface.
 10. The methodof claim 8, further comprising in response to inserting the text intothe target application interface, automatically closing the dictationapplication interface.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein converting theaudio dictation comprises at least one of the following: performing alocal machine conversion of the audio dictation into text, performing aremote machine conversion of the audio dictation into text, sending theaudio dictation to a transcriptionist for transcription, sending theaudio dictation to a remote machine to be converted to text and thensending to a transcriptionist, and performing the local machineconversion and sending the audio dictation and the local machineconverted text to the transcriptionist.
 12. The method of claim 8,wherein the text is inserted at a predetermined cursor position in thetarget application interface.
 13. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising providing a medical dictation interface for providing a useroption to include a text version of the audio dictation into a medicalrecord.
 14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for providing adictation interface that stores a dictation application that, whenexecuted by a computing device, causes the computing device to performat least the following: receive an audio dictation from a user; convertthe audio dictation into text; provide the text in a dictationapplication interface that is provided by the dictation application; andin response to receiving a first user command to complete the dictation,automatically copy the text from the dictation application interface andinsert the text into a target application interface of a targetapplication, the target application interface comprising a text area,wherein the dictation application interface comprises a partial overlaymode option, wherein in response to selection of the partial overlaymode option, the dictation application interface is automatically sizedand positioned to cover a predetermined portion of the text area toappear as if the dictation application interface is part of the targetapplication interface.
 15. The non-transitory computer-readable mediumof claim 14, wherein the dictation application further causes thecomputing device to perform at least the following: receive a seconduser command to move the target application interface; and move thetarget application interface and the dictation application interfacesuch that the dictation application interface appears to be part of thetarget application interface.
 16. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 14, wherein the dictation application further causes thecomputing device to automatically close the dictation applicationinterface in response to inserting the text into the target applicationinterface.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14,wherein converting the audio dictation comprises at least one of thefollowing: performing a local machine conversion of the audio dictationinto text, performing a remote machine conversion of the audio dictationinto text, sending the audio dictation to a transcriptionist fortranscription, sending the audio dictation to a remote machine to beconverted to text and then sending to a transcriptionist, and performingthe local machine conversion and sending the audio dictation and thelocal machine converted text to the transcriptionist.
 18. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the text isinserted at a predetermined cursor position in the target applicationinterface.
 19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14,wherein the dictation application further causes the computing device toprovide a medical dictation interface for providing a user option toinclude a text version of the audio dictation into a medical record. 20.The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein thedictation application interface further comprises a full overlay modeoption, wherein in response to selection of the full overlay modeoption, the dictation application interface is automatically sized andpositioned over the target application interface to fully cover the textarea of the target application interface to appear as if the dictationapplication interface is part of the target application interface.